The Human Face of Big Data

Director: Sandy SmolanYear: 2014Running Time: 56 minutes

Synopsis
With the rapid emergence of digital devices, an unstoppable, invisible force is changing human lives in ways from the microscopic to the gargantuan: Big Data, a word that was barely used a few years ago but now governs the day for many of us from the moment we awaken to the extinguishing of the final late-evening light bulb. This massive gathering and analyzing of data in real time is allowing us to not only address some of humanity’s biggest challenges, including pollution, world hunger and illness but is also helping create a new kind of planetary nervous system. Yet as Edward Snowden and the release of the NSA documents has shown, the accessibility of all this data comes at a steep price. Through interviews with dozens of the scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs pioneering this space and with exquisite cinematography, animations and visualizations, The Human Face of Big Data captures the promise and peril in the growing revolution around big data, which is likely to have a thousand times more impact on our lives than the internet.

Awards
2014 Boston International Film Festival -Best Cinematography
Boston International Film Festival – Official Selection
Newport Beach International Film Festival – Official Selection
Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival – Official Selection
Palm Beach International Film Festival – Official Selection
Transitions Film Festival – Official Selection